Renouncing Satan

One Saturday morning when there was a brief lull in our domestic hubbub, I asked our 13-year-old son John what he considered to be the most important things in life. He instantly presented me with an itemized list:

• To make sure that you and everyone else have a good time

• To fulfill your duty and be honorable

• To be peaceful and law-abiding and church-abiding

• To be patriotic

• Not to be a tattletale

These struck me as remarkably soldierly ideals for a boy who has never been a scout, and whose schooling has been devoid of flag-waving or martial codes of honor. So I inquired further: What might interfere with carrying out such high resolves? Immediately he produced another list: